Dental case



April 5, 1927.

A Y R. M. KERR DENTAL cA ss Filed April 21. 1924 lvwe Mioz- Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

tlhll'l'Ell) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. KERR, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT DENTAL MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

DENTAL CASE.

Application filed April 21, 1924. Serial No. 708,050.

This invention relates generally to instrument cases and refers more particularly to those designed for holding dental instruments and the like.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a case of this type that is susceptible of being subjected to a high temperature for sterilizing the instruments and that is provided with means for mamtainiug the sterilization while they are carried in the case.

Another object is to provide a neat and compact case which preferably contains a plurality of independently removable trays for holding instruments of various lanes.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel t'ea tures of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a top plan view of the case embodying my invention and showing the cover in raised position;

Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation thereof when the cover is closed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the case and showing open and closed position of the clips;

Figure 4c is an end elevation of the construction shown in Figure 3 and showing the clips in closed position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the top of the case with parts broken away.

The case preferably consists of a hollow body section 1 and a complementary cover section 2. These sections are preferably formed of metal that is susceptible of being heated to high temperature and are normally closed together in an edge to edge joint as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The cover section 2 is preferably hinged to the body section as shown at 3, and when closed is adapted to fit around a flange l projecting upwardly from the inner edges of the body section.

lhe instruments (not shown) are preferably placed in removable trays 5 of the desired shape and size, located in the body section 1 of the case, and are adapted to be sterilized while in the trays by subjecting the case to a high temperature. To main-- tain this sterilization I preferably provide a pad of absorbent material such as a layer of felt 6 that is saturated with a germicidal solution and extends over the entire inner face of the cover section. Thus, when the cover is closed the pad will lie over all of the trays in close proximity to the instruments. For holding the pad 6 in position againstthe cover section 2, I preferably provide a flat apertured plate 7' that is fastened to the over section by means of a plurality of fingers 9 which are pivoted upon pins 9 secured to the cover section and are adapted to extend through certain of the apertures in the plate for engagement with the inner face of the plate.

In order that the cover section may be held in closed position, I preferably provide a pair of U-shaped spring clips 10 that are pivoted upon the back of the body section 1 at the opposite ends thereof and are adapted to swing into engagement with the cover section as shown in full lines in Figure 3 of the drawing.

In use, the instruments are sterilized first by subjecting the case to a high temperature, whereupon a sutlicient quantity of a suitable germicidal solution is placed upon the exposed portions of the pad 6 to saturate the latter thoroughly for maintaining the steri lization of the instruments while they are carried in the case. IVhen it is desired to use certain of the instruments, the tray or trays containing those instruments are preferably removed from the case whereon the cover of the latter is closed to maintain the sterilization of the instruments in the trays remaining in the case.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a neat and compact case in which instruments of various sizes and styles may be carried and sterilized. Moreover, the sterilization will be effectively maintained when the cover section is closed in view of the fact the pad 6 covers the entire inner surface of the cover section and is positioned in close proximity to the instruments. Inasmuch as the trays are removable, it will also be apparent that the cover of the case may be closed while the instruments in the removed trays are being used, consequently, the sterilization of the instruments in the other trays within the case may be maintained and the necessity of opening and closing the cover each time an instrument is to be used is obviated entirely.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An instrument case comprising a body section, a cover section having a Wall connected to the body section, separately removable trays in the body section for holding the instruments, and a pad secured to the cover section, said pad being saturated with a germicidal solution for sterilizing the instruments in the trays.

2. An instrument case comprising a pair of complementary sections, a plurality of in dependently removable trays resting on thebottom of one section for holding the instruments, and a pad extending over the entire inner surface of the other section and saturated With a germicidal solution for sterilizing the instruments in all of said trays.

3. An instrument case comprising a body section for holding the instruments and a complementary cover section, a pad in the cover section of absorbent material saturated With a germicidal solution for maintaining said instruments in sterilized condition, an apertured plate resting against the pad, and pivoted members carried by the cover section engageable With the same for holding the pad against the cover section.

4. An instrument case comprising a pair of complementary sections, a plurality of trays contained in one of said sections adapted to receive instruments, a pad in the other section of absorbent material saturated With a germicidal solution, and means carried by said last mentioned section between said pad and the other section for retaining said pad in position.

5. An instrument case comprising a pair of complementary sections, a plurality of separately removable trays contained in one of said sections adapted to receive instruments, a pad in the other of said sections of absorbent material saturated with a germicidal solution for maintaining said instruments in sterilized condition, and means removably carried by the pad-receiving section between said pad and said other section for retaining said pad in position.

6. An instrument case comprising a body section provided with a plurality of separately removable trays for receiving instruments, and a complementary cover section, said cover section having therein a. pad of absorbent material saturated With a germicidal solution for maintaining said instruments in sterilized condition, a pluralty oi pins carried by said cover section, a lug swingingly mounted on the upper end of each of said pins, and means engageable With said lugs and positioned between said pad and said body section for retaining the pad in said cover section.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ROBERT M. KERR. 

